Life, 1927-07-14 · page 16 of 40
Life — July 14, 1927 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page presents an **Alibi Contest**—a humorous competition where readers submit creative excuses for everyday situations. The top cartoon (Alibi Number Twenty-Six) shows a man confronted by his wife about a torn dress, claiming "There must have been a police dog on that beat!" The larger cartoon (Alibi Number Thirty-One) depicts a man in formal wear caught by a woman in an elaborate ball gown amid scattered diamonds and jewels. His excuse: the engagement ring he gave her was genuine, but when it broke and scattered into pieces, he claims "it's this way"—implying the destruction wasn't his fault. The contest invited readers to submit humorous alibis (excuses), offering $100 in weekly prizes. This reflects early 20th-century humor focused on domestic mishaps and marital misadventures.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ALIBL NUMBER TWENTY-SIX “WHEN YOU SOLD ME THIS YOU SAID IE WAS A GENUINE BOSTON WM TERRIER, AND LOOK AT now! “WELL, YOU SER, IT's THIS Way... There must have been a_ police dog on that beat.’ This Alibi, which wins the first prize of $50.00, was submitted by Mrs. Macpe A, Moray, General Delivery, Gilroy, California. Five second prizes of $10.00 each have been awarded to the following: Hl, G. Heuare, Greencastle, In diana, for the Alil The owner of this dog's mother told us that he could hardly keep the wolf from the door. Lady, have you no heart?” Davin Horrmaann, White Plains, w York, for the Alibi: “He would have been, but his parents moved from Boston to Brooklyn a week be- fore he was born.” Sumner A, Maine, for the Kinsve Portland, Alibi: little scamp deceived me but, madam, you should be proud to own a dog that could lie so magnificently to. shield his mother.” A. E. Macvonanp, Highland Park, Michigan, for the Alibi: “He is a Boston terrier, but, naturally, he's afraid to be himself.” Marovuenite Pristen, Atlantic City, New Jersey, for the Alibi: “His father was a blue-blooded Bos- tonian, but I’m afraid his mother was a little Bohemian.” Life ALIBI CONTEST Conditions of the Contest on page 34 $100.00 Weekly in Prizes (PRE usefulness of the Alibi has been demonstrated beyond all doubt during this Contest. More than 125,000) readers of Lire have shown, by their participa- tion, that people with brains keep a stock of these handy little gadgets ready for immediate use at all times. No one should be without an Alibi, for one can never tell when it may avert a nasty situation, or even save a life. The fiancé shown below has given his betrothed ring, which is no more than customary He has told her that the stone is a rare diamond. She has dropped it on the floor, and it has smashed into 1 thousand shimmering bits. in’ engagement The sweet girl demands that he kick in with an explanation and he needs a lot of help. If you can help him, in twenty- five words or less, to complete his eligible for one of the prizes, which are as follows: First Prize, $50.00 Five Second Prizes of $10.00 each ALIBL NUMBER THIRTY- TWO will be published in Live next week, with fered. answer, you arc uonew set of prizes of- Read the conditions carefully and go to it! ALIBI NUMBER THIRTY-ONE She: You SMp THIS ENGAGEMENT RING WAS A RARE DIAMOND— BUT IT BROKE IN PIECES WHEN 1 DROPPED IT. He: WeLL, You see, IT's THIS WAY... Say SOMETHING! comicbooks.com